Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Painful urination in women is often caused by urinary tract infections. In men, it's frequently caused by urethritis and prostate problems. Other common causes of painful urination include sexually transmitted infections, genital herpes, bladder and kidney stones, and soaps, perfumes, and other personal care products that irritate.

Medical conditions and other factors that can cause painful urination include:

  1. Bladder stones
  2. Cervicitis
  3. Chlamydia trachomatis
  4. Cystitis (irritation of the bladder)
  5. Genital herpes
  6. Gonorrhea
  7. Having a recent urinary tract procedure done, including any that used urologic tools for testing or treatment
  8. Interstitial cystitis — also called painful bladder syndrome, a condition that affects the bladder and sometimes causes pelvic pain.
  9. Kidney infection (also called pyelonephritis)
  10. Kidney stones (Hard buildups of minerals and salt that form inside the kidneys.)
  11. Medicines, such as those used in cancer treatment, that can irritate the bladder as a side effect
  12. Prostatitis (Infection or inflammation of the prostate.)
  13. Reactive arthritis
  14. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  15. Soaps, perfumes and other personal care products
  16. Urethral stricture (narrowing of the urethra)
  17. Urethritis (infection of the urethra)
  18. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  19. Vaginitis
  20. Yeast infection (vaginal)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Oct. 11, 2023

See also

  1. Bacterial vaginosis
  2. Bladder cancer
  3. Bladder Cancer
  4. What is bladder cancer? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  5. Bladder cancer FAQs
  6. Bladder cancer treatment options
  7. Bladder stones
  8. Cervicitis
  9. Chlamydia trachomatis
  10. Endometriosis
  11. What is endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains
  12. Endometriosis FAQs
  13. Epididymitis
  14. Glowing Cancer Surgery
  15. Gonorrhea
  16. Kidney infection
  17. Kidney stones
  18. New immunotherapy approved for metastatic bladder cancer
  19. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  20. Preventing Kidney Stones
  21. Prostatitis
  22. Prostatitis and sex
  23. Reactive arthritis
  24. Recurrent prostate infection
  25. Robotic bladder surgery
  26. Scientists propose a breast cancer drug for some bladder cancer patients
  27. Sex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?
  28. STD symptoms
  29. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
  30. Stage 4 prostate cancer
  31. STD testing
  32. Trichomoniasis
  33. Vaginal atrophy
  34. Vaginal cancer
  35. Vaginitis
  36. Yeast infection during pregnancy